As much as starting this practice has been one of the most exciting adventures I have ever embarked on, it has also been the scariest and most nerve wracking. I wouldn't be a good therapist if I didn't label my emotions surrounding this new experience, so here we go!
Starting my own private practice has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and now that it's finally time to get the wheels turning, I have found myself feeling a puzzling emotion: fear. I assumed I would feel excited, hopeful, or optimistic, but all I have been feeling is a sense of uneasiness. Of course me and my therapist brain took the time to reflect on where th
ese emotions were stemming from, and in the end it all boiled down to one thing: I am terrified of failure.
When you set unrealistic expectations for yourself to meet, it decreases the likelihood that you will actually meet them and increases the chances of being disappointed. In my mind, I wasn't just starting a practice; I was finally chasing my dream, and the thought of potentially not succeeding in achieving it is absolutely terrifying. The most important lesson that I have learned within the last few years is that the biggest risk you can take in life is not taking one at all – despite the fear and uncertainty that come with taking a risk, they have the potential to open a world of possibilities. Leaving my full-time, stable, salaried job to start this practice from scratch was a huge risk. However, I knew that if I didn't take this risk and follow this path, I would always be wondering "what if".
So, here I am, in my "risky girl era", deciding to follow my dreams and lean in to the fear associated with doing so. I don't know whether this risk will lead me to great reward or success, but what I do know is that I am grateful for this process and the lessons I am learning along the way.
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